Heat-actuated alarm system.



PATENTED MAY 31, 1904.

0. E. BUELL! HEAT AGTUATED ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 28, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT 'OFFICE.

7 CHARLES E. BUELL, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

HEAT-ACTUATED ALARM SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,198, dated May 31, 1904.

Application filed May 28, 1903. Serial No. 159,053. (No model.) i

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BUELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Camden, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented a Heat- Actuated Alarm System, of which the following is a specification.

-My invention relates to the class of heat actuated alarm systems which distinguish between a true fire-alarm and an accidental alarm. The alarm systems of this class have heretofore employed signal-receiving apparatus that comprised wound-up mechanism which is heretofore been accomplished when the sys-.

tem is acted upon by the heat of an incipient fire.

My invention consists, primarily, in the- .combination, with a normally charged controlling electric circuit, of an electromagnet in said circuit which isprovided with an armature, an alarm branch circuit that is adapted to be closed by the attraction of said armature, a device for normally preventing the closing of said alarm branch circuit during the time that the system is waiting for a fire to occur that will drop or move out of the path of the parts that are moved by the said armature when the same is retracted and allow said armature to be again attracted to close said alarm branch when the controlling-circuit is restored to normal, and mechanism in operative relation to said controlling-circuit that is adapted to open, vary, or modify said circuit and thereafter restore it to normal when acted upon by heat,substanti ally as hereinafter described.

My invention further consists in certain combinations and subcombinations to behereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the apparatus arranged for carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 shows a detail of construction.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a series of charged circuits 1, 2, and 3, extending out through the apartments or floors of the building to be protected, each of which includes an annunciator and having connection to a source of electrical supply M There is also shown included in said charged controllingcircuit the devices T T T, that open, vary, or modify the controlling circuit when acted upon by the heat of an incipient fire. There is also shown an alarm branch circuit, including the gongG and having connection With the main source of electrical supply M", and a notifying-signal circuit in dotted lines, including the battery B and the bell b. There is shown as parts of the mechanical and electrical construction of said closed-circuit annunciators the armature a a a, electrically connected with and forming a part of said alarm branch circuit and said notifying-signal circuit. The drops 10 p p have normally open-ended slots p for normally preventing the closing of said armatures a a a, which form a part of said alarm branch circuit and for indicating the location of the fire, and the-contact-points c e a, forming a part of the said alarm branch cir cuit, and contact-points d d d, forming a part of said notifying-signal circuit. In the following description of the action of the apparatus of my invention the annunciator A and its component parts and circuits are used, the action and working of the others in the series or system being the same in every respect. The thermostats T T T have the gravity member 1) held to normally close the circuit by being soldered at s to the rod 9. In case of a fire in that portion of the building where the heat-actuated devices T T are located the heat or temperature rises until a point is reached when the soldered fastening of one of the devices T T will become unsoldered and the circuit Z is opened for a brief interval, and as said circuit is a closed charged circuit when opened the source of electrical supply is withdrawn from the electromagnets of said annunciator A, allowing the armature a to lift into contact with the point cl, as shown in the single dotted line, at the same time releasing the drop p, which is thrownd own, displaying the number or device upon its face denoting the apartment where the alarm has originated. The circuit 7 is again closed automatically by the gravitating of the member D of the device T which opened the circuit, and as the drop has moved out of the path of the armature a the armature is attracted into contact with the contact-stop of the alarm-circuit at causing the large gong Gr to sound, producing an alarm-signal different from that which would be given if the circuit was broken or the system was out of order by accident or neglect.

The fire is extinguished, and the alarm system must be restored to its normal condition. The device T which opened is removed from the circuit and a new one installed in its place, the drop 1) of the annunciator A is restored to the position in which it prevents the armature a from coming into contact with point a, and the system is in working order again. If through any cause the wire forming the controlling charged circuit is broken, the circuit is opened and the source of electrical supply is withdrawn from the electromagnet of the .annunciator A, allowing the armature a to lift into contact with the point (Z, completing the notifying-signal circuit and causing the vibrating bell I) to sound, and the drop 7) is thrown down, denoting the circuit that has opened. The wire being broken, the circuit Z will remain open until the circuit is completed again, and as long as the circuit Z remains open the bell b. will sound, notifying the occupants that there is a break in the said circuit. Vi hen the circuit is repaired, the annunciator-drop is restored to its normal position.

The advantages of this system are obvious. There can never be a fire-alarm due to the accidental opening, varying, or modifying of the charged thermal circuit.

Fig. 2 shows the thermostatic device T in detail. The mechanism of the device T is inclosed in a case formed oftwo parts A'and B, which are fastened together in a suitable manner, the whole adapted to be fastened to the ceiling by means of screws or other pre ferred methods. The lower portion of the case A is cut away at 0 0, and in the opening thus formed is located the lower portion or head of the .gravitating circuit-controlling member D of the device T. Securely fastened in the part A are two strips of metal 0 0, one end of each connecting with a bindingpost 6p 5p and the other end of each, 2f 2/, lying in the same plane and in such relation to each other that a flat body resting on one exposed surface will rest on the other also. Rigidly fastened in the center and at right angles to the plane of the base B is located a guide-rod 7, the free end extending a slight distance beyond the line of the part A. Around the guide-rod g and movable thereon is a gravitating member D, having three parts, the spindle 0' connecting the head at with the foot 71', the inner face of the head on resting against and making electrical contact with the strips 0 c at 25 t, as shown, the gravitating member D being held up in. contact with the strips 0 c by being soldered with easily-fusible solder to the guide-rod r at the free end. Quick action of the drop 1) being required, there may be inserted in the head m a piece of insulating material 2', and upon that fastened a piece of thin metal s, the said thin piece 8 being soldered to the guide-rod y. The heat of an incipient fire will then not have to heat so large a mass of metal before causing the solder to soften and flow. The head m and the feet a of member D are formed of metal, as they consecutively form a part of the said controlling-circuit. The action of a sufficient rise in temperature upon the thermostatic device T is to soften and cause to flow the solder used to fasten the said member D to the guide-rod allowing it to drop, guided by the rod 9, and breaking the contact between the metal strips 0 0, resulting in opening the controlling-circuit, causing a corresponding action of the annunciator, as before described. The weighty member D having become unsoldered and started to drop, gravity will keep it moving until the inner face of the feet it rests against and forms electrical connection between the contactstrips 0 c at If t, and thus completing the controlling-circuit again and causing the beforedescribed action of the annunciator.

It is obvious that the device T may be made in other forms without departing from my invention.

WVhile the notifying-signal may be used to denote the fact that the system is out of order by reason of accidental breakage of a circuit or because the charging-battery has become exhausted through neglect to replenish it, the opening, varying, and modifying of the charged circuit of the system can be brought about by devices attached to doors and windows, and the small bell for the notifying-signal thus becomes a burglar-alarm-receiving instrument. In this way a [irealarm can be established in a store, barn, factory, or dwelling and the same circuit can be made use of for giving a distinct and different alarn'i-signal when the building is entered, the annunciators being adapted to denote the locality where the burglar-alarm originates, but the audible alarm being different from that produced by heat. WV hen the notifyingsignal has been rung and it is desired to close the opened circuit, the fire-gong G can be prevented from sounding by opening the switch '10 until the annunciator-drop is reset.

What I claim is 1. A charged circuit that includes an electromagnet, a normally open alarm branch circuit adapted to be closed by the attraction of the armature of said electromagnet, a device for limiting the stroke of the attracted armature during the time that the system is quiescent that will'drop and move out of the path of the part movable with said armature, when the same is retracted, 'to allow the armature to close said open alarm branch when the armature is again attracted, and mechanism in operative relation to said charged circuit that is adapted to automatically open said circuit to cause said armature to retract, and to there after close said circuit to attract said armature to close said open alarm branch, when said mechanism is acted upon by heat.

2. A fire-alarm system that comprises a charged circuit an electromagnet in said circuit, a normally open alarm branch adapted to be closed by the attracted armature of said electromagnet, a device for limiting the stroke of the attracted armature during the time that the systemis waiting for the occurrence of a fire, which is adapted to automatically move out of the path of the part moved by said armature when the same retracts, and to allow said armature to close said open alarm branch when it is again attracted, and mechanism in operative relation to said charged circuit that is adapted to open said charged circuit and thereafter restore said circuit to normal, when acted upon by heat, and by such manipulation of said circuit to cause said open alarm branch to be closed for producing a fire-alarm.

3. A series of charged circuits each of which includes an electromagnet and armatures in operative relation to said electromagnets, a normally open alarm branch adapted to be closed by the attracted armatures of said magnets, a device in operative relation to said armatures for limiting the stroke of said attracted armatures during the time that said series of circuits are in repose, said limiting devices being adapted to automatically drop out of the path of the circuit-closing devices moved by said armatures when the same retract, and to allow said armatures to successively close said open alarm branch when again attracted, and mechanisms in operative relation with said series of circuits that are adapted to open their respective circuit and thereafter restore said circuit to normal, when acted upon by heat, and by such manipulation of said circuit to cause said open alarm branch to be closed for producing an. alarm of fire.

- 4. In a fire-alarm system, a charged circuit, an annunciator in said circuit, a normally open alarm branch circuit adapted to be closed by the attraction of the armature of said annunciator, the drop of said annunciator being arranged to limit the stroke of said attracted armature during the time that the system is waiting for the occurrence of a fire, and adapted to be thrown down out of the path oi the circuit-closer moving with said armature when it retracts, and to display a number or device to indicatea definite locality, and to allow said armature to cause said open alarm branch to close when it is again attracted, and mechanism in said charged circuit adapted to open said circuit and to thereafter restore said circuit to normal, when acted upon by heat, to cause said alarm branch to be closed, substantially as set forth. 7

5. A series of charged circuits, an annunciator in each of said circuits, a normally open alarm branch circuit, common to the several annunciators, and adapted to be closed by the attraction of the armature of each of the said annunciators, the drop of each annunciator being arranged to limit the stroke of the armature when it is attracted during the time that the system is waiting the occurrence of a fire, and is adapted to be thrown down when the said armature is retracted, and to display a number or device to denote a definite apartment and to allow the said armature to cause the open alarm branch circuit to close when it is again attracted, and mechanism in said charged circuits adapted to vary said circuits and to thereafter restore said circuits to nor' mal, when acted upon by heat.

6. A fire-alarm system that comprises a charged circuit, an electromagnet in said circuit, a normally open alarm branch circuit adapted to be closed by the attracted armature of said electromagnet, a device for limiting the stroke of the attracted armature during the time that the system is waiting for the occurrence of a fire, which is adapted to automatically move out of the path of the said armature when the same retracts, and to allow said armature to close said open alarm branch when it is again attracted, an independent open branch circuit that includes apparatus for giving a notifying-signal, that is adapted to be closed by the retracting of said armature,

and gravitating devices in said charged circuit that are adapted to open said circuit and thereafter restore said circuit to normal when acted upon by heat.

7 A series of charged circuits, an electromagnet in each of said circuits, an armature in operative relation with each of said electromagnets, a normally open alarm branch circuit common to the several armatures and adapted to be closed by the attraction of the said armatures of each of the said electromagnets, a device for each of the said electromagnets in operative relation to the armature and adapted to prevent the attracted armature from closing the said open alarm-circuit while the said series of circuits are waiting for the occurrence of a fire, and is adapted to be automatically removed from the path of the armature and its attached part when the said armature retracts and to display a number or device to denote a definite locality and to allow said armature to close said open alarmcircuit when said armature is reattracted; and gravityactuated thermal devices in and forming a part of said charged circuits adapted to vary said circuits and to thereafter restore said circuits to normal when acted upon by heat.

8. A series of charged circuits, a source of electrical energy for charging said circuits, an electromagnet in each circuit, a normally open alarm branch having connection to said source of electrical energy and adapted to be closed by the attraction of the armatures of the several electromagnets, a device for each armature for preventing it from closing said open alarm branch during the time that the system is waiting for the occurrence of a lire, and that is adapted to be removed when the armature is retracted and to allow the said armature to close said alarm branch when it is again attracted, a subcircuit that includes apparatus for producing a notifying-signal when the armature is retracted by the charged circuit being open, varied and modified by accident or neglect and one or more thermallycontrolled mechanisms in each of said charged circuits that comprises a gravitating circuitchanging member, for each, held to normally close the charged circuit by an easily-fused solder and adapted to open and vary said circuit and to thereafter restore said circuit to normal when acted upon by heat.

9. A series of charged circuits, asource of electrical supply for charging said circuits, an annunciator in each circuit, a normally open alarm-circuit havingconnection to said source of electrical supply and adapted to be closed by the attraction of the armatures of the several annunciators, a drop for each annunciator, located so as to prevent the armature from closing the said open alarm-circuit during the time the system is Waiting for the occurrence of a fire, and that is adapted to be thrown down when the armature is retracted and to allow the said armature to close the said open alarm-circuit when it is again attracted, a normally open circuit that includes apparatus for producing a notifying-signal when the armature of each of the several annunciators is retracted by the charged circuit being opened, varied and modified by accident or neglect; and one or more thermally-controlled gravityactuated switches in and forming a part of the said charged circuit each of said gravityswitches having a movable member held normally to close the said charged circuit by an easily-fused solder, and adapted to open and vary said circuit and to thereafter restore the said circuit to normal, when acted upon by heat.

CHARLES E. BUELL. WVitnesses:

T. J. EVANS, M. G. JUs'rIoE. 

